Honda Car Forum

In the past, Honda would give squeaks and rattles top priory. It's strange that
the dealership would try to downplay the issue. I would have contacted Honda
Canada (or American Honda) after the first episode with the dealership.

Personally, I'd never get the Accord Sedan since I think it's ugly. However, the
TSX seems like a very nice looking package.

Pars

John Horner wrote:

> About one month ago I purchased a 2003 Accord V6 with navigation, which
> means with every factory installed option available. So far I have not been
> impressed by the supposedly amazing level of quality Honda is reputed to
> provide.
>
> Problem 1: The driver's seat rocks back and worth when stationary. After
> the dealer had the car for three days to "fix" this problem they told me
> that Honda USA would be sending them some special bushings to fix it and
> that they would call me when these special parts arrived. That was three
> weeks ago, and no call.
>
> Problem 2: The dash board has multiple annoying squeaks, thumps and rattle
> which come and go depending on how much sunlight is beating down on the
> dash. Dealer was not able to do anything about this.
>
> Problem 3: Both front door inner panels also have random squeaks, buzzes
> and rattles. Again, dealer unable to do anything about it.
>
> Problem 4: Paint has a large particle of foreign matter in it which clearly
> happened at the factory. Dealer agrees it should not be there and "will
> advise" what to do about it.
>
> Problem 5: The navigation system's lookup function is so badly designed as
> to be almost unusable. Tell it to find the nearest "Wells Fargo Bank" and
> it is more likely to lead you to one 1500 miles away than it is to the one 2
> miles away. The software is lacking sorely in real ease of use
> sophistication.
>
> Problem 6: The built in CD player does not offer a fast forward or reverse
> function. You can only go ahead one full track or back one full track.
> Considering that the interface is a touch panel LCD, offering the normal
> expected range of controls is a simple thing to do which Honda left out.
>
> Problem 7: The factory speakers were some of the cheapest, most horrible
> sounding things I have run across in a long time. Considering that this is
> the top of the range Accord, Honda should have done better. I fixed this
> problem with good aftermarket speakers.
>
> Problem 8: The handbrake control has sharp edges at the mold lines of the
> plastic. This is the kind of thing auto magazine reviewers always pillory
> GM for, but here it is on that supposed paragon of excellent, the Honda
> Accord. The transmission shift lever is likewise a very cheap feeling bit
> of plastic.
>
> If I had bought a Hyundai I would expect to find these kinds of problems.
> Now I'm wondering if Honda's cost reduction engineers have taken their jobs
> too far. Maybe the Ohio plant where my car was built doesn't really have
> their act together on the new generation Accord. In the past I have always
> followed the policy of not buying the first model year of any design. This
> time I thought that Honda would not have such problems, but I was wrong.
> Yes, my expectations when spending $27,000 for a new car are high. So far I
> regret having bought a Honda. Our two year old, much maligned Olds
> Silhouette minivan has delivered a much better initial owner experience (30k
> miles so far) than has the much vaunted Honda.
>
> John

I'm not sure if the original poster is just too pickey or it's just
been bad luck. No matter what car you buy, you'll always have a
complaint about one thing or another. I have 2 accords (a 95 DX and a
99 LX) both of which were made in the US without any problems. I also
have a 95 Integra which was manufactured in Japan without any issues
either. I don't think it matters if it was made in Japan or US. People
should go on extensive road tests to get the feel of the car and
whether or not it is right for them. If a dealer refuses, take your
business elsewhere.
Based on the experiences I had with both Ford and Chevy, I'd
still take all of these issues that this person is experiencing over
the crap that both of the other manufactures produce. I had a problem
with my left light on my 88 Chevy Corsica. I found out that it had to
do with the wear on the turn signal that caused the left light to not
function. I am fascinated that even after 10 years Chevy never fixed
the problem....I still see it occurring on Luminas that are 95-97
models!

Nick

On Sat, 09 Aug 2003 17:57:29 -0400, pars <"sdaro(remove)"@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>In the past, Honda would give squeaks and rattles top priory. It's strange that
>the dealership would try to downplay the issue. I would have contacted Honda
>Canada (or American Honda) after the first episode with the dealership.
>
>Personally, I'd never get the Accord Sedan since I think it's ugly. However, the
>TSX seems like a very nice looking package.
>
>Pars
>
>John Horner wrote:
>
>> About one month ago I purchased a 2003 Accord V6 with navigation, which
>> means with every factory installed option available. So far I have not been
>> impressed by the supposedly amazing level of quality Honda is reputed to
>> provide.
>>
>> Problem 1: The driver's seat rocks back and worth when stationary. After
>> the dealer had the car for three days to "fix" this problem they told me
>> that Honda USA would be sending them some special bushings to fix it and
>> that they would call me when these special parts arrived. That was three
>> weeks ago, and no call.
>>
>> Problem 2: The dash board has multiple annoying squeaks, thumps and rattle
>> which come and go depending on how much sunlight is beating down on the
>> dash. Dealer was not able to do anything about this.
>>
>> Problem 3: Both front door inner panels also have random squeaks, buzzes
>> and rattles. Again, dealer unable to do anything about it.
>>
>> Problem 4: Paint has a large particle of foreign matter in it which clearly
>> happened at the factory. Dealer agrees it should not be there and "will
>> advise" what to do about it.
>>
>> Problem 5: The navigation system's lookup function is so badly designed as
>> to be almost unusable. Tell it to find the nearest "Wells Fargo Bank" and
>> it is more likely to lead you to one 1500 miles away than it is to the one 2
>> miles away. The software is lacking sorely in real ease of use
>> sophistication.
>>
>> Problem 6: The built in CD player does not offer a fast forward or reverse
>> function. You can only go ahead one full track or back one full track.
>> Considering that the interface is a touch panel LCD, offering the normal
>> expected range of controls is a simple thing to do which Honda left out.
>>
>> Problem 7: The factory speakers were some of the cheapest, most horrible
>> sounding things I have run across in a long time. Considering that this is
>> the top of the range Accord, Honda should have done better. I fixed this
>> problem with good aftermarket speakers.
>>
>> Problem 8: The handbrake control has sharp edges at the mold lines of the
>> plastic. This is the kind of thing auto magazine reviewers always pillory
>> GM for, but here it is on that supposed paragon of excellent, the Honda
>> Accord. The transmission shift lever is likewise a very cheap feeling bit
>> of plastic.
>>
>> If I had bought a Hyundai I would expect to find these kinds of problems.
>> Now I'm wondering if Honda's cost reduction engineers have taken their jobs
>> too far. Maybe the Ohio plant where my car was built doesn't really have
>> their act together on the new generation Accord. In the past I have always
>> followed the policy of not buying the first model year of any design. This
>> time I thought that Honda would not have such problems, but I was wrong.
>> Yes, my expectations when spending $27,000 for a new car are high. So far I
>> regret having bought a Honda. Our two year old, much maligned Olds
>> Silhouette minivan has delivered a much better initial owner experience (30k
>> miles so far) than has the much vaunted Honda.
>>
>> John


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"Nick" <npolite@NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ipsajv826335ddqskoqalif7b8ai2qu484@4ax.com...
I have a 2002 honda civic si, it has no rattles, fine sounding radio, fine
workmanship, made in Swinson, England. I have low profile tires and still no
rattles. I also have a 2001 honda ex v6 coupe with Greddy exhaust and cold
air package which drives and handles better than the 2003 coupe. I will stay
away from the 2003. Like the man said any car will rattle as it get older.
Before I buy any new car I will get in the trunk and have a friend wash it
down with a good flowing hose and check for leaks etc. I will also drive at
least 10 miles with everything off to check for wind noise etc. I then make
them put it on a rack and I will check for leaks and things under the car. I
get a key to keep overnight, go back early in the morning when there is no
traffic, start the car and make sure it cold starts and runs good and has no
cold rattles. This has saved me from buying a few lemons. I also pick cars
that have just been off loaded if possible. Do not fall for we will fix it
later.

"Thudd" <goose1@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
news:vjbjptbj2femd5@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "Nick" <npolite@NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:ipsajv826335ddqskoqalif7b8ai2qu484@4ax.com...
> I have a 2002 honda civic si, it has no rattles, fine sounding radio, fine
> workmanship, made in Swinson, England. I have low profile tires and still
no
> rattles. I also have a 2001 honda ex v6 coupe with Greddy exhaust and
cold
> air package which drives and handles better than the 2003 coupe. I will
stay
> away from the 2003. Like the man said any car will rattle as it get older.
> Before I buy any new car I will get in the trunk and have a friend wash it
> down with a good flowing hose and check for leaks etc. I will also drive
at
> least 10 miles with everything off to check for wind noise etc. I then
make
> them put it on a rack and I will check for leaks and things under the car.
I
> get a key to keep overnight, go back early in the morning when there is no
> traffic, start the car and make sure it cold starts and runs good and has
no
> cold rattles. This has saved me from buying a few lemons. I also pick cars
> that have just been off loaded if possible. Do not fall for we will fix it
> later.

Climb into the trunk? :-) Some of this makes sense but some is OTT.

I'll start another thread to get ideas on what other people look for in a
test drive.

On Sun, 10 Aug 2003 09:24:46 -0400, "Greg" <Greg@noreply.com> wrote:

>"Thudd" <goose1@cox-internet.com> wrote in message
>news:vjbjptbj2femd5@corp.supernews.com...
>>
>> "Nick" <npolite@NOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:ipsajv826335ddqskoqalif7b8ai2qu484@4ax.com...
>> I have a 2002 honda civic si, it has no rattles, fine sounding radio, fine
>> workmanship, made in Swinson, England. I have low profile tires and still
>no
>> rattles. I also have a 2001 honda ex v6 coupe with Greddy exhaust and
>cold
>> air package which drives and handles better than the 2003 coupe. I will
>stay
>> away from the 2003. Like the man said any car will rattle as it get older.
>> Before I buy any new car I will get in the trunk and have a friend wash it
>> down with a good flowing hose and check for leaks etc. I will also drive
>at
>> least 10 miles with everything off to check for wind noise etc. I then
>make
>> them put it on a rack and I will check for leaks and things under the car.
>I
>> get a key to keep overnight, go back early in the morning when there is no
>> traffic, start the car and make sure it cold starts and runs good and has
>no
>> cold rattles. This has saved me from buying a few lemons. I also pick cars
>> that have just been off loaded if possible. Do not fall for we will fix it
>> later.
>
>Climb into the trunk? :-) Some of this makes sense but some is OTT.
>
>I'll start another thread to get ideas on what other people look for in a
>test drive.

Fix your broken software, please.

http://www.webattack.com/get/oequotefix.shtml